Los Gatos Weekly-Times

LaPine qualifies for state meet

Junior maintains Los Gatos tradition in the 800 meters

By Dick Sparrer

It might be a little bold to say that Los Gatos track and field owns the 800 meters at the Central Coast Section level.

But it's not much of an exageration.

Gatos junior Amy LaPine continued the school's long-standing tradition of success in the event when she romped to a third-place finish in the girls' 800 at the CCS finals last Friday night at San Jose City College.

LaPine becomes the eighth Los Gatos half-miler in the last five years to qualify for the state meet in the event, joining an elite list that includes teammate and former CCS champ Lina Biber-Ferro.

LaPine covered the two laps in 2:17.8 to finish third in the CCS finals and earn a berth in the state meet June 5-6 at Cerritos College in Norwalk in Southern California. LaPine is the 14th Gatos runner to qualify for state in the event.

Bob Chambers was the first when he won a CCS title in the 880 back in 1944, then won the state championship in the half-mile.

Scott Oliver (1980), Laura Henry (1984), Genevieve Farnady (1988), Nick Green (1991), Meg Veeder (1991 and '94), Biber-Ferro (1995 and '96), Tom Newman (1996), Beebe Rutledge (1996), Ally Lombardi (1996) and Stephanie Chavez (1997) were other Wildcats who placed high enough at CCS to qualify for state in the event.

"We have quite a tradition in the 800," said Los Gatos coach Willie Harmatz.

LaPine joins the list this spring, thanks to an outstanding effort last Friday night at the CCS finals. After running 2:15.8 in the semifinals, LaPine advanced to the finals with the second best time in the field.

LaPine ran 2:18.41 in a slow field in the finals. "It was a slow pace in the first lap," said Harmatz. But LaPine picked up the pace on the final lap.

"She was the only one with guts enough to take off on the back stretch," said Harmatz of the Gatos junior. "She opened up the pace, then it was a sprint for everybody."

LaPine held the lead through the final turn, but both Maureen Maruqess of St. Francis and Colleen Wrenn of Palo Alto passed her in the final stretch.

Biber-Ferro supported LaPine's effort by claiming a medal in the 1,600 meters. She finished sixth in 5:19.63.

"She's our only distance runner ever to win CCS medals all four years," said Harmatz of Biber-Ferro, a talented Gatos senior. "So she finished on a good note."

Biber-Ferro and LaPine also teamed with Rebecca Fong and freshman Emily King to finish sixth in the 1,600-meter relay in 4:08.64. Biber-Ferro anchored the event with an impressive 60.3 split.

Sarah High was the only other Gatos placer at CCS. The senior distance star was 10th in the 3,200 meters in 11:52.22.

"She had a great season," said Harmatz of High.

Rusty Martin ended up eighth in the boys' 3,200 meters in 9:43.80. He had run 9:42 in the semifinals.

"He was the only freshman in the finals," said Harmatz. "He might be the best freshman [in the 3,200] in the state."

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